Category: Clean Energy Program

TWP Laments Passing of Long-time Friend Ken Goyer

TWP laments the passing of long-time friend and stove-expert Ken Goyer, who passed away this last weekend of cancer.  Ken has worked tirelessly promoting Rocket Stove technology around the world, and he will be remembered and missed by many.  Apart from helping TWP test lightweight ceramics for our Honduras project in 2005, Ken founded the Aid Africa project in Northern Uganda, which helped bring fuel-efficient stoves, health programs, and clean water to thousands of Achioli communities.  We send our condolences to Ken’s immediate family in Oregon, and to all those who were touched by Ken’s kindness in the many corners of the world where he worked.

To learn more about the Aid Africa project and how you can help the people of Northern Uganda please visit http://www.aidafrica.net.

Renewables on Tribal Homelands: A Rosebud Sioux Renewable Energy Conference

Enjoy these pictures from the Renewables on Tribal Homelands conference held April 28th-April 30th, 2010 in Rosebud, South Dakota.  The event was a great success!  For more information please contact Liz Sunderland, TWP’s Tribal Lands Coordinator, at liz@treeswaterpeople.org.

Winona LaDuke Visits Red Cloud Renewable Energy Center

In photo: Richard Fox (TWP), Henry Red Cloud (LSE), Winona LaDuke, Bret Tschacher (LSE), Liz Sunderland (TWP)

Internationally acclaimed Native American author, orator and activist Winona LaDuke made a visit to the Red Cloud Renewable Energy Center on Monday to tour the facilities and discuss future projects with staff from Trees, Water & People and Lakota Solar Enterprises.

LaDuke’s visit coincides with the Renewables on Tribal Homelands Conference, which will begin today, April 28th, and run through Friday, April 30th. Sponsored by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe; Trees, Water & People (TWP); Lakota Solar Enterprises (LSE); and the National Renewable Energy Labs (NREL), the conference will highlight the energy cost problems faced by the Indian Reservations of the American West, the new and developing family and facility-scale alternative energy projects being implemented to address these problems, and the future possibilities for Native American renewable energy development.

Henry Red Cloud & The Return of Indian Entrepreneurship

Trees, Water & People’s good friend and partner, Henry Red Cloud, is featured in Indian Country Today’s article, “The Return of Indian Entrepreneurship.” Congratulations, Henry!

Register for the 2010 Renewables on Tribal Homelands Conference

Renewables on Tribal Homelands: A Rosebud Sioux Tribe Renewable Energy Conference will be held April 28-30, 2010, at the Rosebud Casino & Hotel in South Dakota. Sponsored by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe; Trees, Water & People (TWP); Lakota Solar Enterprises (LSE); and the National Renewable Energy Labs (NREL), the conference will highlight the energy cost problems faced by the Indian Reservations of the American West, the new and developing family and facility-scale alternative energy projects being implemented to address these problems, and the future possibilities for Native American renewable energy development.

Renewables on Tribal Homelands is all about bringing renewable energy into tribal communities and homes. The conference is open to all tribes and individuals who are interested in renewable energy technologies and looking for ways to start and fund innovative projects.

Henry Red Cloud stands next to one of Lakota Solar Enterprises’ solar heating installations


The Rosebud Reservation has been at the forefront of tribal renewable energy development, making this an ideal opportunity to explore the future of Native American renewable energy innovations and opportunities. Participants will tour multiple sites on the Reservation, including the Little Thunder Project, a demonstration site for multiple renewable energy applications. This project utilizes the home of Rosie Little Thunder, the head of a well-known traditional Lakota family. The renewable energy demonstrations on the site include windbreak and shade trees, a solar air heater, photovoltaic panels, and a small wind turbine.

Participants will also visit the 750 kilowatt utility-scale commercial wind turbine at the Rosebud Casino. Purchased in 2003, this is the first commercial wind turbine in the lower 48 states wholly owned and operated by a Native American tribe. The Sicanyu Lakota of the Rosebud Reservation also negotiated the first tribal sale of carbon offset “green tags” generated by this turbine to NativeEnergy of Vermont. Site tours will also include visits to a straw bale house and solar heater installations.

The last day of the conference will address future renewable energy projects and opportunities, using case studies of other tribes’ renewable energy efforts. Included will be a presentation by Henry Red Cloud, proprietor of Lakota Solar Enterprises (LSE), about the Red Cloud Renewable Energy Center (RCREC). Located on Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, RCREC provides tribes with training by and for Native Americans in solar heating and other renewable energy applications. Along with tours and presentations, the conference will feature traditional dinners and cultural activities in the evenings.

For more information about this event or to register, please contact Liz Sunderland at Trees, Water & People at 970-484-3678, liz@treeswaterpeople.org, or Deana Haukaas at Rosebud Sioux Tribe Utility Commission at 605-747-4097, deanaml@hotmail.com.

Henry Red Cloud Featured in Native Peoples Magazine

Henry Red Cloud, founder of Lakota Solar Enterprises, is featured in the latest Native Peoples Magazine!  The article, titled “Renewable Energy in Indian Country: Opportunities and Challenges Abound,” discusses the “growing American Indian effort to tap the economic and environmental benefits of clean, renewable energy, a step that consequently lessens dependency on fossil fuels.”  Thank you to Native Peoples Magazine and Jodi Rave for the wonderful article!

TWP CELEBRATES SUCCESS OF 2009 RENEW THE ROCKIES- THE FUTURE IS CLEAN ENERGY

Trees, Water & People is celebrating the success of Renew the Rockies – The Future IS Clean Energy! On March 7th, guests traveled into the future to play casino-style games, bid on fantastic auction items, and dance to live music by Ilan Shamir & Friends and The Atoll – all in support of renewable energy.

Renew the Rockies raises funds for TWP’s local Clean Energy Program. A portion of this year’s proceeds will help install a 10kw solar electric system on Kinard Junior High School. Stu Reeve, Energy Manager for the Poudre School District, rallied enthusiasm from guests when he spoke on behalf of the collaboration.

Join TWP next year to celebrate our 10th Annual Renew the Rockies!

TREES, WATER & PEOPLE HAS BEEN SHORT LISTED FOR THE RIO TINTO PRIZE FOR SUSTAINABILITY

Trees, Water & People (TWP) is among ten organizations that have been short listed for the prestigious U.S. one million dollar Rio Tinto Prize for Sustainability. The global Rio Tinto Prize for Sustainability is available to all not-for-profit non-governmental organizations who demonstrate that they are working to advance the goals of economic, environmental and social sustainability.

According to David Anderson, Chairman of the Adjudication Panel, “We believe we have ten short listed organizations which highlight the diversity and depth of talent, initiative and skills existing in the not-for-profit sector.” Short listed organizations represent a diversity of work being done locally to contribute towards global sustainable development.

Winning the Rio Tinto prize will enable TWP to significantly expand its international sustainability efforts which will ultimately benefit a greater segment of the poor population in Central America and Haiti. With the prize money, TWP could purchase additional equipment and supplies for its new stove factory in Honduras; expand its Forest Replacement Associations (FRAs) and fuel-efficient stove project in Nicaragua; build a stove factory and establish more tree nurseries in Haiti; and certify our carbon offsets to produce sustainable program revenue.

Upcoming Clean Energy Education events

Our Clean Energy Education program will be involved in a couple of exciting events coming up.

First is the Fire Mountain Music Festival, a two-day event August 22nd-23rd at the Mishawaka in the Poudre Canyon. It’s a music festival with green workshops, products, zero waste, and demonstrations. TWP has been invited to bring the SunMobile up for both days, and we will also have a table in the products section to highlight our carbon offsets and also have some of great items from our Sustainable Gifts catalog.

The second event is also pretty cool! At the Comedy Works in Denver, the 3 pm and a 7 pm show on Sunday, September 14 will benefit Trees, Water & People! We will be there with a table of information about our programs, and the performer will also be “passing the hat” for us too.

So come out and support us at either of these fun events!

Elizabeth